Tag: hacking

When I was a child my father always said to me, “Just because you think the world is out to get you doesn’t mean they aren’t.” In this world of hacking elections and email leaks my father’s words means that he is more than likely better at predicting the future than George Orwell. Publicly most only hear about cyberattacks against high-profile companies, banks and government websites, that get hacked but the reality is small businesses make the best prime targets for cybercriminals, competitors and disgruntled parties. The logic behind what makes a prime target is simple, due to their lack of resources, small businesses have the least-protected websites, most business owners scoff at cyber security recommendations until they fall victim to an attack. System accounts and network systems are relatively primitive a�� making cyberattacks a relatively easy job.

In the age of cyber security exposures in the government and major corporations and the list goes on, it is now apparent to everyone that cyber security is no joke. Whether you have a website, online banking or currency accounts accounts, any type of Web-based infrastructure personally or professionally, you are at risk of being a victim of a cyberattack. In the Business News Daily article ‘13 Security Solutions for Small Business‘ listed some best practices for your business. They are also listed below. When you are ready to really make sure your infrastructure can withstand a cyberattack give us a call.

Best practices for your business

Ready to protect your business and its data? These best practices will keep your company as safe as possible.

Keep your software up to date. As stated in this Tom’s Guide article, “an outdated computer is more prone to crashes, security holes and cyberattacks than one that’s been fully patched.” Hackers are constantly scanning for security vulnerabilities, ESET’s Cobb said, and if you let these weaknesses go for too long, you’re greatly increasing your chances of being targeted.

Educate your employees. Make your employees aware of the ways cybercriminals can infiltrate your systems, teach them to recognize signs of a breach, and educate them on how to stay safe while using the companyez?s network.

Implement formal security policies. Bill Carey, vice president of marketing and business development at Siber Systems, noted that having companywide security policies in place can help reduce your likelihood of an attack. He advised requiring strong passwords a�� those with upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols a�� that should be changed every 60 to 90 days. Sixty-five percent of SMBs that have a password policy do not strictly enforce it, according to the Keeper Security and the Ponemon Institute report.

Ultimately, the best thing you can do for your business is to have a security-first mentality, Henderson said. He reminded small businesses that they shouldn’t assume they’re exempt from falling victim to a breach because of their size.